Volunteer Fire Assistance grants awarded to 55 local responder agencies
Volunteer fire departments are essential to helping control the spread of wildland fires in Maryland. The Volunteer Fire Assistance Program provides funds to help local firefighters equip and prepare for these efforts. Maryland DNR photo.
Maryland 2026 - The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service is providing Volunteer Fire Assistance grants to 55 volunteer fire departments in 17 counties across the state. The funded projects help volunteer fire companies enhance wildland fire protection in rural communities.
For the 2025 grant cycle, finalized in December, the Maryland Forest Service is providing $167,314 in match funding to complete $370,376 in total project cost. The grants match up to 50 percent of project cost with a maximum grant of $3,500 per department. For this grant cycle, all but two Maryland applicants received a grant.
Funding for this program is provided by the USDA Forest Service.
Maryland Volunteer Fire Assistance grant recipients by county, along with the grant amount and total project cost in parentheses, are:
Allegany County
Barton Hose Company No. 1
$3,500
($7,913)
Borden Shaft Volunteer Fire Company No. 1
$3,500
($7,052)
Bowman’s Addition Volunteer Fire Company
$1,830
($3,660)
Cresaptown Volunteer Fire Department
$2,850
($5,700)
Frostburg Fire No. 1
$3,450
($6,900)
LaVale Volunteer Fire Department
$3,250
($6,500)
Mount Savage Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($7,000)
Rawlings Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($7,000)
Baltimore County
Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company
$2,650
($5,300)
Calvert County
North Beach Volunteer Fire Department
$1,520
($3,040)
Caroline County
Greensboro Volunteer Fire Company
$1,688
($3,375)
Preston Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.
$3,500
($7,408)
Ridgely Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($8,063)
Carroll County
Hampstead Volunteer Fire Company
$3,500
($9,000)
Manchester Volunteer Fire Engine and Hook and Ladder Company No. 1
$3,500
($7,788)
Cecil County
Hacks Point Fire Company
$2,950
($5,900)
The Community Fire Company of Perryville
$3,500
($8,105)
Charles County
Bryans Road Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad
$750
($1,500)
Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($8,055)
Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad Inc.
$570
($1,140)
La Plata Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
$3,500
($7,650)
Tenth District Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($34,403)
Dorchester County
Church Creek Volunteer Fire Company
$2,762
($5,523)
East New Market Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($7,554)
Eldorado-Brookview Volunteer Fire Company
$2,820
($5,640)
Hurlock Volunteer Fire Company
$3,500
($7,353)
Linkwood – Salem Volunteer Fire Company
$3,500
($7,250)
Secretary Volunteer Fire Company
$3,481
($6,961)
Vienna Volunteer Fire Company
$3,500
($7,002)
Garrett County
Accident Volunteer Fire Company
$3,118
($6,235)
Bittinger Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($7,000)
Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company
$3,488
($6,976)
Kitzmiller Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($7,000)
Oakland Volunteer Fire Department
$1,659
($3,318)
Howard County
West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department
$2,901
($5,802)
Kent County
Galena Volunteer Fire Company
$3,400
($6,800)
Prince George’s County
Berwyn Heights Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad
$1,215
($2,429)
Queen Anne’s County
Grasonville Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($12,000)
Sudlersville Volunteer Fire Company
$3,500
($10,547)
Somerset County
Fairmount Volunteer Fire Company
$2,248
($4,495)
St. Mary’s County
Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($7,345)
Washington County
Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company
$3,441
($6,881)
First Hose Company of Boonsboro
$3,500
($7,000)
Funkstown Volunteer Fire Company
$2,866
($5,731)
Hancock Fire Company
$3,500
($10,000)
Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Company
$2,839
($5,678)
Longmeadow Volunteer Fire Company
$3,428
($6,855)
Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Department
$3,500
($7,276)
Potomac Valley Fire Company
$3,500
($7,000)
Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Company
$3,500
($7,240)
Williamsport Volunteer Fire and EMS
$3,464
($6,927)
Wicomico County
Hebron Volunteer Fire Department
$1,750
($3,500)
Parsonsburg Volunteer Fire Company
$3,500
($7,373)
Pittsville Volunteer Fire Department
$2,931
($5,862)
Powellville Volunteer Fire Company
$3,480.38
($6,960.76)
